Bi-directional connector assembly for an implantable medical device

ABSTRACT

An implantable signal generator including electronic circuitry, a computer readable medium, and a connector block with a lumen which receives at least one lead. The at least one lead has at least one electrode connector while the lumen of the connector block has a plurality of contacts operably coupled to the electronic circuitry. The computer readable medium contains instructions for carrying out a process to determine at least one piece of information regarding the at least one lead within the lumen based on an electrode connector being electrically connected with the at least one of the plurality of contacts, and an electrode connector not being electrically connected with the at least one of the plurality of contacts.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/885,428, entitled “BI-DIRECTIONAL CONNECTOR ASSEMBLYFOR AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE” filed on Jan. 18, 2007, thedisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a connector for an implantable medicaldevice and particularly to an implantable medical device that candetermine information regarding components connected thereto.

BACKGROUND

The medical device industry produces a wide variety of electronic andmechanical devices for treating medical conditions. Commonly usedneurostimulators include an implantable signal generator and at leastone lead. Different clinicians can choose to implant different leads inthe same or different types of patients. Often, one particularneurostimulator can only be used with one particular lead or set ofleads. This can require medical device manufacturers to maintain anumber of different models of neurostimulators, for example. Productionof numerous models of neurostimulators can make manufacturing moreexpensive, and can cause implant facilities to maintain a largerinventory. Advantages in manufacturing cost and efficiency as well asconcomitant reductions in inventory would both be served by allowingdifferent lead configurations to be used with one neurostimulator.Implantable signal generators that can identify the particular leadsthat are utilized therewith could also be advantageous.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Disclosed is an implantable signal generator that includes a housing; aconnector block having a first surface and a second surface; electroniccircuitry contained within the housing; a power source contained withinthe housing; a lumen extending through the connector block from thefirst surface to the second surface, wherein the lumen is configured toreceive at least one lead, wherein said lead includes at least oneelectrode connector; a plurality of contacts within the lumen, whereinthe plurality of contacts are operably coupled to the electroniccircuitry; and a computer readable medium containing instructions forcarrying out a process to determine at least one piece of informationregarding a lead that is received within the lumen, the processincluding the steps of: measuring at least one characteristic of atleast one of the plurality of contacts; and determining which of tworanges the measured characteristic fits, wherein the two ranges ofcharacteristics correspond to an electrode connector being electricallycoupled with the at least one of the plurality of contacts, and anelectrode connector not being electrically coupled with the at least oneof the plurality of contacts; and wherein the range which the measuredcharacteristic fits is used in determining the at least one piece ofinformation regarding the lead.

Also disclosed is an implantable signal generator including a housing; aconnector block having a first surface and a second surface; electroniccircuitry contained within the housing; a power source contained withinthe housing; a lumen extending through the connector block from thefirst surface to the second surface, wherein the lumen is configured toreceive at least one lead; and a plurality of contacts housed within thelumen, wherein the plurality of contacts are operably coupled to theelectronic circuitry, wherein each of the plurality of contacts areconfigured to allow electrical connection with at least one electrodeconnector of at least one lead when the at least one lead is received inthe lumen, wherein at least one of the plurality of contacts is notelectrically coupled with an electrode connector when the at least onelead can be received in the lumen of the implantable signal generator,and wherein the electrical circuitry is configured to detect the atleast one of the plurality of contacts that is not electricallyconnected with an electrode connector of a lead in order to determine atleast one piece of information regarding the at least one lead that canbe received in the lumen of the implantable signal generator.

Further disclosed is a system that includes (i) an implantable signalgenerator that includes a housing; a connector block having a firstsurface and a second surface; a lumen extending through the connectorblock from the first surface to the second surface; and a plurality ofcontacts housed within the lumen; (ii) electronic circuitry that isoperably coupled to the implantable signal generator; (iii) a powersource that is operably coupled to the implantable signal generator; and(iv) at least one lead that includes at least one electrode; at leastone electrode connector; and at least one electrode conductor thatelectrically connects the at least one electrode and the at least oneelectrode connector; wherein the connector block is operably coupledwith the housing, wherein the plurality of contacts are operably coupledwith the electronic circuitry, wherein each of the plurality of contactsare configured to allow electrical connection with one of the at leastone electrode connectors when the at least one lead is received in thelumen, wherein at least one of the plurality of contacts is notelectrically connected with an electrode connector when the at least onelead is received in the lumen, and wherein the electrical circuitry isconfigured to detect the at least one of the plurality of contacts thatis not electrically connected with an electrode connector in order todetermine one piece of information regarding the at least one lead thatis received in the lumen

Also disclosed is a process for determining at least one piece ofinformation regarding a lead, wherein the lead comprises at least oneelectrode connector, wherein the lead is received within a lumen,wherein the lumen extends through a connector block of an implantablesignal generator from a first surface to a second surface of theconnector block, wherein the lumen is configured to receive the at leastone lead, wherein the lumen houses a plurality of contacts, wherein theplurality of contacts are operably coupled to electronic circuitry ofthe implantable signal generator; the process including the steps of: a)measuring at least one characteristic of at least one of the pluralityof contacts; and b) determining whether the measured characteristic iswithin a first range, or a second range, wherein the first range ischaracteristic of the at least one electrode connector being connectedto the at least one contact, and the second range is characteristic ofthe at least one electrode connector not being connected to the at leastone contact, wherein whether the characteristic is within the firstrange or the second range provides at least one piece of informationregarding the at least one lead.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This disclosure may be more completely understood in consideration ofthe following detailed description of various embodiments of thedisclosure in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an active medical device implantedwithin a human body;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an implantable signal generator (ISG);

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a portion of a lead;

FIG. 4 is a diagram of an illustrative ISG;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a process of determining at least onepiece of information regarding at least one lead;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a portion of a lead; and

FIG. 7 is a diagram of the second surface of the ISG depicted in FIG. 4.

The figures provided herein are not necessarily to scale. Like numbersused in the figures refer to like components. However, it will beunderstood that the use of a number to refer to a component in a givenfigure is not intended to limit the component in another figure labeledwith the same number.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, reference is made to the accompanyingdrawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way ofillustration several specific embodiments. It is to be understood thatother embodiments are contemplated and are part of this disclosure. Thefollowing detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in alimiting sense.

All scientific and technical terms used herein have meanings commonlyused in the art unless otherwise specified. The definitions providedherein are to facilitate understanding of certain terms used herein andare not meant to limit the scope of the disclosure.

Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing feature sizes,amounts, and physical properties used in the specification and claimsare to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term“about.” Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numericalparameters set forth in the foregoing specification and attached claimsare approximations that can vary depending upon the desired propertiessought to be obtained by those skilled in the art utilizing theteachings disclosed herein.

The recitation of numerical ranges by endpoints includes all numberssubsumed within that range (e.g. 1 to 5 includes 1, 1.5, 2, 2.75, 3,3.80, 4, and 5) and any range within that range.

As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singularforms “a”, “an”, and “the” encompass embodiments having pluralreferents, unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. As used inthis specification and the appended claims, the term “or” is generallyemployed in its sense including “and/or” unless the content clearlydictates otherwise.

The term “implantable medical device” includes, for example, animplantable signal generator (ISG), a cardiac pacemaker, an implantabledefibrillator, a congestive heart failure device, a hearing implant, acochlear implant, a neurostimulator, a drug pump, a ventricular assistdevice, an insulin pump, an implantable sensing system, an artificialheart, a bone growth stimulator, or a prosthetic device, and the like.

Examples of “operably coupled” include, but are not limited to,electrically coupled, electrically connected, mechanically coupled,mechanically coupled, electrically and mechanically coupled,electrically and mechanically connected, and capable of being operablycoupled.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an implantable medical device 20implanted within a human body or patient 28. The implantable medicaldevice 20 is illustrated as an implantable signal generator (ISG)however; the implantable medical device 20 may be any implantablemedical device as described above and can be placed in any locationwithin a patient or on the surface of a patient's skin.

In one embodiment, the ISG 20 is utilized with a lead extension 22having a proximal end coupled to the ISG 20, and a lead 24 having aproximal end coupled to a distal end 32 of the lead extension 22; and adistal end of the lead 24 that includes at least one electrode 26. Inother embodiments, the lead 24 proximal end is coupled directly to theISG 20, without using a lead extension 22. When a lead is referred toherein as connecting to an ISG, it will be understood by one of skill inthe art that the lead can be connected to the ISG or the lead extensioncan be connected to the ISG. It will also be understood that portions ofthis disclosure that refer to components o the lead connecting to theISG 20 can be referring to components of the lead or components of thelead extension connecting to the ISG 20. The ISG 20 can be implanted inany useful region of the body such as in the abdomen of a patient 28.Similarly, the lead 24 can be implanted at any useful region in thebody, such as somewhere along the spinal cord 30. It will also beunderstood that a lead 24 as referred to herein can be modified to beused with other types of implantable medical devices and still be withinthe present disclosure.

One embodiment of an ISG 20 is depicted in FIG. 2. The ISG 20 depictedin FIG. 2 includes a housing 40. The housing 40 generally functions tocontain at least some of the other components of the ISG 20. In oneembodiment, housing 40 can be generally a rectangular type shape that iswider and higher than it is deeper. Another way of demonstrating this,with respect to FIG. 2 is that the depth of the device in the zdirection (into the paper) is less than the width in the x direction orthe height in the y direction. The ISG 20 is operably coupled to theelectronic circuitry 46 that generally functions to control the ISG 20.In one embodiment, the electronic circuitry is housed within the housing40 of the ISG 20. In another embodiment, the electronic circuitry 46 isnot contained within the housing 40, but is still operably coupled tothe ISG 20. The ISG 20 is also operably coupled to a power source 48.The power source 48 can be contained within the housing 40 or can beoutside the housing 40, but still be operably coupled to the ISG 20. Thepower source 48 can be a battery or an inductive coil, or othercomponents known to those of skill in the art. In one embodiment, theISG 20 is also operably coupled to memory 50. In one embodiment, thememory 50 is contained within the housing 40, and in another embodiment,the memory 50 is outside the housing 40 but is still operably coupled tothe ISG 20.

The ISG 20 also includes an operably coupled connector block 51. Theconnector block 51 can be an item that is separate from the ISG 20 butis permanently or releasably attached to the housing 40, or theconnector block 51 can be integral with the housing 40 and can be adesignated portion of the housing 40. The connector block 51 includes alumen 52 that extends through the connector block 51 from one surface ofthe connector block 51 to another surface of the connector block 51. Inone embodiment, the lumen 52 extends through the connector block 51 fromthe first surface 42 to the second surface 44. The lumen 52 is generallyconfigured to receive at least a portion of a lead within at least aportion of the lumen 52. The lumen 52 can also be configured to receivemore than one lead. In one embodiment, the lumen 52 is configured toreceive two leads or one lead. The lumen 52 houses at least one contact56. In one embodiment, the lumen 52 houses a plurality of contacts 56 a,56 b, 56 c, and 56 d. The plurality of contacts 56 are operably coupledto the electronic circuitry 46, as exemplified by lines 58 a, 58 b, 58c, and 58 d.

FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary lead 24 that can be utilized with an ISG 20as described herein. In one embodiment, a lead 24 has a lead body 60,which has a lead distal end 62 and a lead proximal end 64. The lead 24also includes at least one electrode 66. In one embodiment, a lead 24having at least four electrodes is utilized. In another embodiment, alead having at least eight electrodes is utilized. One of skill in theart will understand, having read this specification, that any types ofelectrodes normally utilized can be utilized herein. Examples of suchelectrodes include, but are not limited to, ring electrodes, coilelectrodes, and segmented electrodes. A lead 24 that can be utilizedherein also includes at least one electrode connector 68. The electrodeconnector 68 functions to electrically connect the lead 24, and morespecifically, the at least one electrode 66 of the lead 24 with the atleast one contact 56 of the connector block 51. The lead 24 alsoincludes at least one electrode conductor 70 that functions toelectrically connect the at least one electrode 66 to the at least oneelectrode connector 68.

In one embodiment, the lead 24 includes a wire having insulation thereonand includes one or more insulated electrical conductors each coupled attheir proximal end to a connector and to contacts or electrodes 26 atits distal end. Some leads are designed to be inserted into a patientpercutaneously (e.g. the Model 3487A Pisces—Quad® lead available fromMedtronic, Inc.), and some are designed to be surgically implanted (e.g.Model 3998 Specify® lead, also available form Medtronic, Inc.). In someembodiments, the lead 24 may contain a paddle at its distal end forhousing electrodes 66. In many embodiments, electrodes 66 may includeone or more ring contacts at the distal end of lead 24.

As discussed above, it will also be understood by one of skill in theart that a lead extension 22 can be utilized herein. When a leadextension 22 is utilized, the lead extension 22 will interact with theconnector block 51 instead of the lead 24 interacting with the connectorblock 51. For example, the lead extension 22 will be electricallyconnected to the lead 24, and the lead extension 22 will house theelectrical connection that ultimately electrically connects theelectrode 66 with the contact(s) 56 in the connector block 51.

The ISG 20 and one or more leads can be utilized with a system. Such asystem may also include a physician programmer and a patient programmer(not shown). In one embodiment, the ISG 20 can include an implantablesignal generator of the type available from Medtronic, Inc., which isgenerally capable of generating multiple pulses occurring eithersimultaneously or one pulse shifting in time with respect to the other,and having independently varying amplitudes and pulse widths. The ISG 20is operably coupled to a power source and the electronics for sendingprecise, electrical pulses to the patient to provide a desired treatmentor therapy. While the ISG 20, in many embodiments, provides electricalstimulation by way of pulses, other forms of stimulation may be usedsuch as continuous electrical stimulation.

The housing 40 and the connector block 51 can be made of any materialcommonly known to those of skill in the art, including but not limitedto titanium, and other such metals. In one embodiment, the material thatmakes up the housing and the connector block are a biocompatiblematerial. Exemplary materials include those that are utilized inimplantable signal generators available from Medtronic, Inc(Minneapolis, Minn.). It will also be understood by one of skill in theart that possible configurations and dimensions of the housing 40 of theISG 20 are generally known and can generally be utilized. Exemplaryconfigurations and materials include those that are utilized inimplantable signal generators available from Medtronic, Inc(Minneapolis, Minn.). One embodiment of an ISG 20 that can be utilizedhas a housing 40 and a connector block 51 that are integrally formed. Insuch an embodiment, the connector block is a separate portion of thehousing that houses the lumen. The connector block 51 and housing 40 canbe made of the same type of material, can be made from the same piece ofmaterial, or can be made of separate materials and can be mechanicallyjoined together. In some embodiments, the connector block is a separatepiece that is joined to the housing. In some embodiments, the connectorblock is a portion of the housing and is only distinguished by being theportion of the housing 40 that contains the lumen 52. Commonly ownedU.S. application Ser. No. 11/733,240 entitled “INTERNAL HERMETIC LEADCONNECTOR FOR IMPLANTABLE DEVICE” by Gerald Lindner, Chris Paidosh, andDarren Janzig, filed on Apr. 10, 2007; the disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference, exemplifies an embodiment wherein theconnector block is a portion of the housing and is only distinguished bybeing the portion of the housing 40 that contains the lumen 52.

The electronic circuitry 46 that is operably coupled with the ISG 20 cangenerally be similar to those known to one of skill in the art. Examplesof such can be found in implantable signal generators available fromMedtronic, Inc. (Minneapolis, Minn.). The power source 48 of the ISG 20can also generally be similar to that known to those of skill in theart. Examples of such can be found in implantable signal generatorsavailable from Medtronic, Inc. (Minneapolis, Minn.). The memory 50 cangenerally include any magnetic, electronic, or optical media, such asrandom access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM),electronically-erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), flash memory, or thelike, or a combination thereof. Examples of such can be found inimplantable signal generators available from Medtronic, Inc.

The lumen 52 extends through the connector block 51 from the firstsurface 42 to the second surface 44. The lumen 52 is configured toreceive at least one lead. The configuration of the lumen 52 is at leastsomewhat based on the configuration of a lead 24 which can be receivedwithin the lumen 52. The lumen 52 allows for bidirectional entry of onelead. By bidirectional entry, it is meant that a lead can enter fromeither surface of the connector block 51. This can be advantageousbecause it can allow for a more natural placement of the ISG 20 within asubcutaneous pocket that is created for it within a patient 28. It canalso allow the lead 24 or the lead extension 22 to more easily bewrapped around the ISG 20 when it is implanted in a patient 28. In oneembodiment, the lumen 52 has substantially the same average diameterthroughout its length. Such a lumen could have repeating diameterchanges for example, that ultimately render the lumen havingsubstantially the same average diameter throughout. Such a lumen can bedistinguished from one that has a constriction within it for example.

The lumen 52 houses at least one contact 56. The at least one contact 56functions to operably couple, or more specifically, at leastelectrically couple the lead 24 or lead extension 22 to the ISG 20. Theat least one contact 56 can be part of a larger structure within thelumen 52, or can be one of a plurality of structures within the lumen(the other structures can including further contacts as well asdifferent structures). In one embodiment, the lumen can include at leastone contact as well as at least one other structure that can function tosecure a lead within the lumen. In another embodiment, the lumen caninclude at least one contact as well as at least one other structurethat can function to electrically isolate one lead from another. Some ofthe at least one contact and other structures, if present, may be joinedtogether to form a larger structure that is housed within the lumen.

The lumen 52 houses at least one contact 56 that is or can be operablyconnected to the electronic circuitry 46. In one embodiment, the lumen52 houses a plurality of contacts 56 a, 56 b, 56 c, and 56 d, forexample. In one embodiment, a lumen 52 houses nine (9) contacts 56. Suchan embodiment is depicted in FIG. 4. This figure illustrates the housing40, the connector block 51, the lumen 52, and the contacts 56 a, 56 b,56 c, 56 d, 56 e, 56 f, 56 g, 56 h, and 56 i. It should also beunderstood that an ISG 20 or more specifically, a connector block 51 caninclude more than one lumen 52 that houses at least one contact.

The contacts 56 can include material configured to provide electricalcontact. In one embodiment, the contact can also mechanically stabilizethe lead and/or the electrode connector that the contact is in contactwith. Materials and configurations that can be utilized as contacts 56are known to those of skill in the art. Examples of such configurationsinclude, but are not limited to set screws made of an electricallyconductive material, coil springs that can make electrical contact,friction fit contacts (also referred to as wiping contacts or beamcontacts), or similar devices. A specific example of a coil spring thatcan make an electrical contact is a Bal Seal contact ring available fromBal Seal Engineering Co. Inc (Foothill Ranch, Calif.). Other examples ofsuch devices can be found in implantable signal generators availablefrom Medtronic, Inc. (Minneapolis, Minn.) for example. In oneembodiment, a combination of more than one type of contact can be housedin the lumen 52. In one embodiment, both set screws and coil springsthat make electrical contact can be utilized housed in one lumen 52. Theexemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 4 shows a lumen 52 that housesboth set screws and coil springs, such as Bal Seal contact rings. Theembodiment depicted therein includes two set screws and seven Bal Sealcontact rings. Specifically, in that embodiment, the contacts designatedas 56 a, and 56 i are set screws, and the contacts designated as 56 b,56 c, 56 d, 56 e, 56 f, 56 g, and 56 h are coil springs, such as BalSeal contact rings. Such an embodiment can provide the advantage ofmechanically securing the lead 24 or lead extension 22 in the lumen 52with the set screws at the ends of the lumen 52, while not adding moretime to an implant procedure than is necessary.

One embodiment includes an ISG that contains or is operably coupled to acomputer readable medium containing instructions for carrying out aprocess to determine at least one piece of information regarding a leadthat is received within the lumen, the process includes the steps ofmeasuring at least one characteristic of at least one of the pluralityof contacts, and determining which of two ranges the measuredcharacteristic fits, wherein the two ranges of characteristicscorrespond to an electrode connector being electrically connected withthe at least one of the plurality of contacts, and an electrodeconnector not being electrically connected with the at least one of theplurality of contacts.

The instructions are for carrying out a process to determine at leastone piece of information regarding a lead that is received within thelumen. The information regarding the lead that can be determined,includes, but is not limited to, the number of electrodes on the lead,the type of electrodes on the lead, the model of the lead, whether thelead includes a sensing electrode as well as a stimulating electrode,which side of the connector block 51 the lead is entering into (firstsurface 42 or the second surface 44), how many leads are entering theISG (one or two), and whether the lead is magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) safe or not MRI safe. In one embodiment, the process determinesthe number of electrodes on the lead and how many leads are entering theconnector block 51. Other information regarding the lead can also bedetermined using a process as described herein.

The process can also be carried out in other fashions, i.e., theinstructions do not need to be housed in memory on the ISG 20. The stepsof the process are illustrated in FIG. 5. As seen therein, the processincludes a step 100 of measuring at least one characteristic of at leastone of the plurality of contacts. Exemplary characteristics that can bemeasured include, but are not limited to, impedance, and potentialacross the contacts. In an embodiment where impedance is measured,commercially available leads can be utilized without modificationbecause many commercially available leads are already configured tocheck impedance.

The process also includes a step 102 of determining which range themeasured characteristic is within. For example, in an embodiment whereimpedance is the characteristic that is being measured, checking theimpedance of one of the contacts will either return an impedance valuethat is characteristic of an electrode connector being connectedthereto, or a value that is characteristic of an electrode connector notbeing connected thereto. An impedance value that is indicative of anelectrode connector being connected thereto with an inoperable orincorrectly operating electrode could also be returned.

The process can also optionally include the step 104 that measuresanother characteristic of at least one of the plurality of contacts if aparticular range has not been found or if it is desired that morecontacts be measured. For example, the impedance of second and furthercontacts could be measured if the first contact returns a value that isindicative of a lead connector not being present. For example, if aparticularly desired value of impedance, has been found, or theimpedance of the desired number of contacts have been measured, or somecombination thereof, the at least one piece of information regarding theat least one lead can be determined.

The process also includes a step 106 of determining the at least onepiece of information regarding the at least one lead. In one embodimentof the process, where impedance is the characteristic that is measured,the information that is to be determined is the number of leadsconnected to the ISG, the number of electrodes on the leads, and thedirection which the lead is entering the ISG. Table 1 below provides anexample of possible measured characteristics and the information thatcan be determined in this embodiment. The particular configuration thatthis table refers to is the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 4. Asdiscussed previously, the embodiment depicted in FIG. 4 includes ninecontacts, designated as 56 a, 56 b, 56 c, 56 d, 56 e, 56 f, 56 g, 56 h,and 56 i respectively.

TABLE 1 The contact whose impedance measurement is within a range thatdictates it is open (i.e. not in contact with an electrode connector)Lead configuration Contact 56a One lead having 8 electrodes entering thelumen of the ISG from the second surface 44 Contact 56i One lead having8 electrodes entering the lumen of the ISG from the first surface 42Contact 56e Two leads both having 4 electrodes entering from both thefirst surface 42 and the second surface 44 Contact 56a, 56b, 56c, 56d,One lead having 4 electrodes entering the and 56e lumen of the ISG fromthe second surface 44 Contact 56e, 56f, 56g, One lead having 4electrodes entering the 56h, and 56i lumen of the ISG from the firstsurface 42

In one embodiment, the at least one piece of information regarding thelead that is received within the lumen can be transmitted to anothercomponent. In one embodiment, the information can be transmitted toanother component, such as a programmer, for example, a physicianprogrammer, a patient programmer, or both. In one embodiment, thetransmitted information can be displayed on the physician programmer,the patient programmer, or both (not shown). In another embodiment, theat least one piece of information regarding the lead that is receivedwithin the lumen can be transmitted to a programmer and be utilized inthe programming of the device. For example, during programming of someimplantable signal generators, the physician inputs information into thephysician programmer, patient programmer, or both in order to set up thetherapy program; in this embodiment, the at least one piece ofinformation regarding the lead that is received within the lumen can bedetermined using a method disclosed herein, and automatically input intothe physician programmer, patient programmer, or both. This could allowthe programming process to become easier, more efficient, or easier tobe accomplished by a less skilled clinician. In another embodiment, theat least one piece of information can be used to check the accuracy ofinformation that was input into a programmer, by a physician forexample, during programming.

Another embodiment includes an implantable signal generator thatincludes a housing, a connector block having a first surface and asecond surface, electronic circuitry that is operably coupled to theISG, a power source that is operably coupled to the ISG, a lumenextending through the connector block 51 from the first surface to thesecond surface, wherein the lumen is configured to receive at least onelead, and a plurality of contacts housed within the lumen, wherein theplurality of contacts are operably coupled to the electronic circuitrywherein each of the plurality of contacts are configured to allowelectrical connection with at least one electrode connector of at leastone lead when the at least one lead is received in the lumen, wherein atleast one of the plurality of contacts is not electrically connectedwith an electrode connector when the at least one lead is received inthe lumen, and wherein the electronic circuitry is configured to detectthe at least one of the plurality of contacts that is not electricallyconnected with an electrode connector of a lead in order to determine atleast one piece of information regarding the at least one lead that canbe received in the lumen. In one embodiment, the electronic circuitryand the power source are contained within the housing.

In such an embodiment, each of the plurality of contacts is configuredto be operably coupled to the electronic circuitry as well as with oneelectrode connector from a lead or a lead extension. As discussed above,the contacts can include, but are not limited to, devices which areknown to those of skill in the art, including coil springs that affordelectrical connections (such as Bal Seals), set screws, and friction fitcontacts. Utilization of such devices for the contacts as well aselectrical connection with the electrode connector would be well withinthe level of one of ordinary skill in the art.

In such an embodiment, a lead (or leads) that is (are) received in thelumen 52 will, because of the configuration of the contact within thelumen and the lead or leads, always have at least one contact that isnot electrically connected with an electrode connector. As used herein,a contact that is not electrically connected is one that, even though atleast one lead is received in the lumen and operably coupled to the ISGvia the at least one contact, is not electrically connected, or inphysical contact with an electrode connector. The particular one of theplurality of contacts that is not electrically connected with anelectrode connector can be determined using a process as describedabove. The particular contact that is not electrically connected with anelectrode connector can then be utilized to determine at least one pieceof information regarding the lead or leads.

Another embodiment includes a system that includes (i) an implantablesignal generator that includes a housing, a connector block having afirst surface and a second surface, a lumen extending through theconnector block from the first surface to the second surface, and aplurality of contacts within the lumen; (ii) electronic circuitry thatis operably coupled to the ISG; (iii) a power source that is operablycoupled to the ISG; and (iv) at least one lead that includes at leastone electrode, at least one electrode connector, and at least oneelectrode conductor that electrically connects the at least oneelectrode and the at least one electrode connector, wherein theconnector block is operably coupled to the housing, wherein each of theplurality of contacts are configured to allow electrical connection withone of the at least one electrode connectors when the at least one leadis received in the lumen, wherein at least one of the plurality ofcontacts is not electrically connected with an electrode connector whenthe at least one lead is received in the lumen, and wherein theelectronic circuitry is configured to detect the at least one of theplurality of contacts that is not electrically connected with anelectrode connector in order determine one piece of informationregarding the at least one lead that is received in the lumen. In oneembodiment, the electronic circuitry and the power source are notcontained within the housing, but are located outside the housing andare operably coupled to the ISG.

In one embodiment, a lead that can be utilized with an ISG as describedherein can be modified from that which is normally available andutilized in order to more easily and correctly place the lead 24 withinthe lumen 52. A depiction of an exemplary lead that has been so modifiedcan be seen in FIG. 6. As seen there, a modified lead can include aflange 72. The flange 72 functions to stop the lead 24 from going toofar into the lumen 52. The flange 72 can also be useful in ensuring thatthe lead goes far enough into the lumen 52 in an embodiment where twoleads are inserted into the lumen 52. Such a modification can be usefulin leads having any number of electrodes. Because the ISG utilizedherein always has an “extra” contact, and the lumen has substantiallythe same average diameter throughout its length, the leads that areinserted into the lumen can be subject to being advanced too far or notfar enough into the connector assembly. Use of a lead 24 with a flange72 can make the implantation easier and require less time and skill; andor allow easier repositioning of the lead within the lumen. The flange72 can include any device that would be known to one of skill in the artfor fulfilling this purpose. Examples of such devices include ferrules,or the like.

The ISGs that are utilized herein can also be used in combination with asealing plug 74 which can be utilized in situations where only one leadis used. An example of a sealing plug 74 can be seen in FIGS. 4 and 7.The sealing plug 74 functions to seal the lumen 52 from the environmentoutside the ISG. This can be advantageous because bodily fluids won't beable to come into contact with the connector assembly once the ISG isimplanted into the body of a patient.

1. A system comprising: (i) an implantable signal generator comprising:a housing; a connector block having a first surface and a secondsurface; a lumen extending through the connector block from the firstsurface to the second surface; and a plurality of contacts housed withinthe lumen; (ii) electronic circuitry that is operably coupled to theimplantable signal generator; (iii) a power source that is operablycoupled to the implantable signal generator; and (iv) at least one leadcomprising: at least one electrode; at least one electrode connector;and at least one electrode conductor that electrically connects the atleast one electrode and the at least one electrode connector; whereinthe connector block is operably coupled with the housing, wherein theplurality of contacts are operably coupled with the electroniccircuitry, wherein each of the plurality of contacts are configured toallow electrical connection with one of the at least one electrodeconnectors when the at least one lead is received in the lumen, whereinat least one of the plurality of contacts is not electrically connectedwith an electrode connector when the at least one lead is received inthe lumen, and wherein the electronic circuitry is configured to detectthe at least one of the plurality of contacts that is not electricallyconnected with an electrode connector in order to determine one piece ofinformation regarding the at least one lead that is received in thelumen.
 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the lead furthercomprises a flange.
 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein thesystem further comprises a sealing plug configured to fit within anopening of the lumen.
 4. The system according to claim 1, wherein thelumen has substantially the same average diameter throughout its length.5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the housing and theconnector block are two separate pieces that are operably coupledtogether.
 6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality ofcontacts comprises both coil springs and set screws.
 7. The systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the plurality of contacts comprises sevencoil springs and two set screws.
 8. The system according to claim 6,wherein the two set screws are closest respectively to the first andsecond surfaces of the connector block.
 9. The system according to claim1 further comprising computer readable medium containing instructionsfor carrying out a process to determine at least one piece ofinformation regarding a lead that is received within the lumen, theprocess comprising the steps of: measuring at least one characteristicof at least one of the plurality of contacts; and determining which oftwo ranges the measured characteristic fits, wherein the two ranges ofcharacteristics correspond to an electrode connector being electricallycoupled with the at least one of the plurality of contacts, and anelectrode connector not being electrically coupled with the at least oneof the plurality of contacts; and wherein the range which the measuredcharacteristic fits is used in determining the at least one piece ofinformation regarding the lead.
 10. The system according to claim 9,wherein the computer readable medium comprises random access memory(RAM), read-only memory (ROM), electronically-erasable programmable ROM(EEPROM), or flash memory.
 11. The implantable signal generatoraccording to claim 1, wherein the at least one of the plurality ofcontacts that is not electrically connected with an electrode connectoris determined by measuring impedance.
 12. The implantable signalgenerator according to claim 9 wherein the process further comprisesmeasuring at least one characteristic of each of the plurality ofcontacts.
 13. The implantable signal generator according to claim 9,wherein the process further comprises transmitting the informationregarding the at least one lead to a programmer.
 14. The implantablesignal generator according to claim 9, wherein the at least onecharacteristic is impedance, wherein the at least one piece ofinformation is chosen from the group consisting of the number ofelectrodes on the lead, the type of electrodes on the lead, whether thelead includes a sensing electrode, which side of the connector block thelead is entering into, how many leads are entering the connector block,whether the lead is MRI safe or not MRI safe, and combinations thereof.